Materialise adds more 3D printed eyewear designs to Hoet collection

Materialise is taking its collaboration with Bruges-based eyewear specialist Hoet Design Studio to the next level with a new range of designs for the 3D-printed Cabrio collection.

Materialise and Hoet Design Studio, having launched the 3D-printed Cabrio collection earlier this year, aim to add to the collection with new models every six months. The new Cabrio models follow Materialise and Hoet’s recent success at the Silmo optical fair in Paris, where together with SEIKO Optical Europe the collaborators won the Silmo d’Or award for excellence in optical innovation for work on the SEIKO Xchanger collection of sports eyewear.

The new Cabrio frames feature further technological innovations and new finishing options, evolving the collection into a high-end luxury range of accessories.

“The eye-catching models include the world’s first 3D-printed adjustable temple system, allowing the wearer to twist and tweak the temples for optimal physiological comfort,” Bieke Hoet, founder of Hoet Design Studio, explained. “Making full use of the design and engineering freedom afforded by 3D Printing, the new Cabrio frames are printed in a woven structure that keeps the frames lightweight while the polyamide material ensures their strength and durability.”

Materialise’s 3-maticSTL software is used to add advanced textures to the side-grills, which can be personalised with gold and silver accessories. In keeping with the philosophy behind the existing 3D-printed Cabrio collection, the new models continue to combine performance, comfort, and aesthetics for a design that is both classic in its elegance and cutting-edge in its production.

Alireza Parandian, Materialise, added: “With this evolution into a long-term collaboration, Materialise and Hoet aim to realize the fullest potential of 3D Printing for eyewear, bringing Additive Manufacturing to this dynamic sector not simply because eyewear can be 3D printed but because 3D Printing can make better eyewear.”

Materialise has a capacity of more than 120 3D printers and a wide variety of available technologies including comprehensive software solutions that have been used to power collaborations like that with Hoet. Hear more on how Materialise is powering new business models and innovations with its Magics software in the December issue of TCT + Personalize Magazine. Subscribe here for free.